In reference to pool playing, from 1926. Meaning "to strive (for)" is from 1967, American English. Sense of "descend (a river) quickly" is from 1610s. Meaning "to inject by means of a hypodermic needle" is attested from 1914. Meaning "photograph" (especially a movie) is from 1890. As an interjection, an arbitrary euphemistic alteration of shit, it is recorded from 1934. Shoot the breeze "chat" first recorded 1941. Shoot-'em-up (adj.) in reference to violent entertainment (Western movies, etc.) is from 1942. Shoot to kill first attested 1867. Shoot the cat "to vomit" is from 1785. To shoot the moon originally meant "depart by night with ones goods to escape back rent" (1829).

O, 'tis cash makes such crowds to the gin shops roam, And 'tis cash often causes a rumpus at home ; 'Tis when short of cash people oft shoot the moon ; And 'tis cash always keeps our pipes in tune. Cash! cash! &c.

["The Melodist and Mirthful Olio, An Elegant Collection of the Most Popular Songs," vol. IV, London, 1829]

n.

"young branch of a tree or plant," mid-15c., from shoot (v.). Also "heavy, sudden rush of water" (1610s); "artificial channel for water running down" (1707); "conduit for coal, etc." (1844).

shoot the works

To act, give, spend, etc, without limit; go for broke: In whatever pertains to comfort, shoot the works

[1922+; fr the shooting of dice in craps, with its extended sense of betting or gambling all one has]

shoo in

verb phrase

To cause a particular horse, esp an inferior one, to win a race

[1908+ Horse racing; fr the notion that the beast, not caring to run and not needing to, can be shooed over the finish line and win]

shoot the lights out

verb phrase

To excel; perform superbly: These kids will jump right up and shoot the lights out on you/ He shoots the lights out in physics, calculus, biology

[1970s+ Sports; perhaps fr the accuracy of marksmanship implied if one is to hit a small target like a lightbulb; certainly influenced by the notion of knocking the daylights, or earlier the liver and lights, ''liver and lungs, innards,'' out of someone or something]

The Dictionary of American Slang, Fourth Edition by Barbara Ann Kipfer, PhD. and Robert L. Chapman, Ph.D.Copyright (C) 2007 by HarperCollins Publishers.Cite This Source

Idioms and Phrases with shoot up

shoot up

1.

Grow or get taller very rapidly, as in She's really shot up in the last year, and now she's taller than her mother.
[ First half of 1500s
]

2.

Riddle with bullets; damage or terrorize with gunfire. For example, I liked the scene in which the cowboy stomps into the saloon, gets drunk, and shoots the place up.
[ Late 1800s
]

3.

Inject a drug intravenously, especially an illegal drug. For example, The police caught him shooting up and arrested him.
[ ; first half of 1900s
]